Log positioners

ABSTRACT

A positioner includes a feeler rod extensible by a piston carried by a pivotably mounted cylinder biased toward a normal position actuating a switch to one condition. When a log is moved laterally by a bottoming out type of setworks of a head rig into engagement with the feeler rod, the cylinder is pivoted away from its normal position to actuate the switch to a different condition, which causes an indication of a precise position of the log. A setworks in which a series of additively connected cylinder drives functions to locate a knee means for a desired cut on a log. A setworks in which a vernier adjusting mechanism precisely locates the knee means, which is held in position by an independent stopping means, and wherein while the knee means is so held the vernier mechanism is reset for subsequent full range operation.

United States Patent [191 Westfall LOG POSITIONERS [76] Inventor: Paul J. Westfall, 4444 W. Burnside St., Portland, Oreg. 97210 [22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 425,288

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 264,739, June 21,

1972, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 83/723; 83/435.1; 83/713; 83/716; 83/722 [51] Int. Cl B27b 7/00; B27b 29/10 [58] Field of Search 83/713,7l4,716,719, 83/720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 726, 727, 728, 83/435.l

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 468,733 2/1892 Stinebring 83/435.1 1,561,342 11/1925 Martin 83/723 [451 Sept. 23, 1975 Primary ExaminerDonald R. Schran Attorney, Agent, or Firm1(larquist, Sparkman, Campbell, Leigh, Hall & Whinston {57] ABSTRACT A positioner includes a feeler rod extensible by a piston carried by a pivotably mounted cylinder biased toward a normal position actuating a switch to one condition. When a log is moved laterally by a bottoming out type of setworks of a head rig into engagement with the feeler rod, the cylinder is pivoted away from its normal position to actuate the switch to a different condition, which causes an indication of a precise po sition of the log. A setworks in which a series of additively connected cylinder drives functions to locate a knee means for a desired cut on a log. A setworks in which a vernier adjusting mechanism precisely locates the knee means, which is held in position by an independent stopping means, and wherein while the knee means is so held the vernier mechanism is reset for subsequent full range operation.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US Patfint Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,906,829

mom m MON US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,906,829

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of3 Qwm hmmw

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LOG POSITIONERS PREVIOUS APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior eo-pending application entitled Improved Log Positioners," Ser. No. 264,739, filed June 21, 1972 now abandoned.

DESCRIPTION This invention relates to improved log positioners. and more particularly to new and improved head rig log positioners. I

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved log positioners.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved head rig log positioners.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved feeler device for establishing the backstand of a log carriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a head rig feeler device including a feeler member bodily mov able into and out of the path of a log being positioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeler device movable by setworks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very precise. rugged feeler device for a head rig.

Another object of the invention is to provide a noncreeping setworks for a head rig carriage.

Another important object is to provide a setworks having a vernier drive for a knee, and independent stopping means for holding the knee in fixed position until release of the stopping means, in combination with other means for resetting the vernier means while the knee means are so held.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary. vertical, sectional view of a head rig carriage and a positioner structure forming one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary. top plan view of the carriage and the positioning structure of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevation view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged. fragmentary, elevation vie taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2; I

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a preferred form of my invention; I

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a vernier type mechanism for adjusting the position of a knee;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram of certain of the stoppingcylinders. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown therein a head rig 10 (FIG. 1) including identical positioners l2 and 13 forming one embodiment of the invention. The head rig includes a known electro mechanical setworks 14 on a carriage 16, which is movable along track rails 18 and 20 to move a log 22 to and past a saw band 24 to saw cants from the logs. The setworks 14 includes a reversible electric motor drive 26 (FIG. 2 which drives a line shaft 28 through reduction gearing 30. The line shaft drives chain-and-sprocket drives 32 to move knees 34 along transverse guides 36 of the carriage to move the log 22 laterally on the carriage. The knees 34 carry dogs 38 (FIG. 1'), which hold the log against the knees. The line shaft also drives an indicator 40 through chain-and-sprocket drives 42 and 44'to'give a visual indication of the position of the right-hand edge ofrthe log In the drawings, the upper reach of the chain drive to the knee is shown as projecting above the upper face of the guide 36 for convenience in illustration. In practice, it is below such face so that the log rests on the guide. not the chain.

' The positioner-s 12 and 13 very precisely position the log 22 atthe z'ero position to calibrate the setworks l4, and also may be used to very precisely position the log for cutting eants. The positioner'l2 includes a doubleacting cylinder '50 pivotally mounted by bearings 52 and a trunnion 54 near the upper end of the cylinder. The bearings are mounted on uprights 56 on a slide 58 movable along a guideway 60 extending transversely of the track rails 18 and 20. The uprights are rigidly con nected to a clevis- 68 brazed to the brace 62 and also is connected to a fixedsetworks' unit ;The two setworks units 64 and 70are shown in FIG. 1 in their extended position, and each may be retracted individually under the control of theopcrator, it being understood that the positioner I3 is set identically with the setting of the positioner l2.

A piston rod serves as a feeler, and is carried by the piston (notshown in the cylinder 50. The cylinder 50 may be actuated to move the rod-80 to its extended position as shown in FIG. 1 and hold the rod in this positio'n. and the cylinder 50 also may be actuated to retract the rod to a position below the top 'of the carriage. A single-acting cylinder unit 82 is connected between a bracket 84 fixed to the uprights 56 and a'band 86 fixed to the "cylinder 50. The cylinder unit-82 urges the cylinder 50 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, toward a vertical position in which a bar 88 on the lower end of the cylinder engaging a stop 90 in the form of an adjustment screw on a bracket92. In this position, the bar 88 also engages a plunger 94 of a limit switch 96 mounted on the slide 58. When the log 22 reaches the desired position on the carriage, the log pushes the rod 80 to move the bar 88 away from the stop90 just sufficiently to cause the switch 96 to be ac.- tuated. The switch 96 may be connected to the motor drive 26 to stop the motor drive 26 with the log precisely at the zero point, or the switch may be connected to a suitable indicator (not shown)-to indicate to the operator when the log is at the zero point. When the cylinder unit 64 is retracted, positioner 12 or positioner 13 with the switch 96 and the corresponding switch of the positioner 13 connected in series to the motor drive, disconnects a clutch and applies a brake of the motor drive when the log is precisely in position for a cut of a predetermined thickness by the saw band 24. Similarly, when both the cylinder units 64 and 70 are retracted and the switch 96 and that of the positioner 13 are so connected to the motor drive, the positioner 12 or 13 stops the motor drive when the log is precisely in position for a cut of a greater predetermined thickness.

.The switch 96 (and that of the positioner I3) is actuated by movement of its plunger of only a few thousandths of an inch, and the length of the lever-arm formed by the point of contact of the log on the rod 80 to the trunnion 54 is a small fraction of the length of the lever arm from the trunnion to the plunger 94 of the switch 96, which amplifies the movement of the feeler rod by the log. Preferably. in setting the zero position, the switches of both the positioners l2 and 13 are connected in series to the motor drive 26 so that whichever positioncr is actuated first by the log stops the carriage setworks.

Embodiment of FIG. 5

FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the positioner I2 is bodily stationary. rather than being moved by cylinders 64 and 70, while each knee 34, instead of being driven by a motor 26, is driven by a series of bottoming out" double acting cylinders, three of which 201,,202-and 203, are shown. The cylinders are supported on a guide 205, which in turn is rigidly affixed to the associated guide 36. The cylinders vary in size (bottoming out movement) from, say one thiry-second inch up to 16 inches of 32 inches in a geometric progression, so that any distance between onevthirty-second inch and 63 31/32 inches can be obtained to one thirty-second of an inch. Controls (not shown) enable all or any combination of the cylinders to be energized. While the motor 26 is not used, the chain drive to the indicator 40 is retained.

In operation, the feeler 80 would be retracted to allow the log to be passed over it and against the knees to be clamped thereagainst. Now, the cylinders are energized to move the log out until the feeler is engaged, which breaks the circuits to the solenoid valves for the cylinders to hold them stationary, and lowers the feeler. This establishes a fzerof, or backstand position for the log which is observed by the operator on the indicator 40. The fluid is then selectively routed either manually or by an override logic circuit to the cylinders until the backstand position is attained to one thirty-second of an inch with all cylinders bottomed out. Now, a cut is selected, and the fluid re-routed to obtain the desired cut with all cylinders bottomed out. For instance, assume that there is-a 27 inch backstand (distance from the kneefaceto the saw line). This would be obtained by bottoming out the following cylinders, 16 inches, 8 inches, 2 inches, I inch and V2 inch. Now to get a 4 inch cut, the 4 inch cylinder would be energized and bottomed out to move the log forwardly exactly four inches and hold it there without creep..

However, suppose that the backstand is 22 inches. This would be obtained by bottoming out the following cylinders: 16 inches, 4 inches and 2 inches. Now, to get a four inch cut with all cylinders bottomed out, the 4 inch cylinder would be contracted while the 8 inch cyl- Embodiment of FIGS. 6 8

Referring to FIG. 6, there is a pair of guides 305 for a knee 307, there being a pair of such knees for the log L. The knees carry the log L into contact with a gauge generally entitled 309, which is like the gauge in FIG. 5. The letter S indicates the saw line and thus the expected cut.

The knee 307 is actuated by a cylinder, arrangement which includes a master or reset cylinder 315, and a vernier mechanism in the form ofa series of binary cylinders 329. The master cylinder has its rear end anchored at 317 in stationary relation to the guides 305 of the carriage. The piston rod 319 of the cylinder 315 is in driving relation to the binary cylinders, there being a hydraulic clamp 325 interposed between the rod 319 and the rear end of the series of binary cylinders. The binary cylinders in turn are in driving relationship to the knee 307, there being a second hydraulic clamp 327 interposed between the head or front end of the series of binary cylinders and the knee means. The second hydraulic clamp is coupled at 331 to the knee 307. The hydraulic clamps are mounted in sliding or guided engagement with the guides 305, but when actuated clamp against the guides and hold certain elements in fixed position.

The binary cylinders 329 are like the cylinders 201, 202 and 203 in that the piston ofone is connected to the cylinder of the next so that the movements of the pistons are additive. I

FIG. 7 shows the construction of the hydraulic clamp 327. It includes a base member 341 slidably engaging the guides 305 and overhanging them. There is a hydraulic cylinderj343 at each end of the base member having an angle clamp lug 345 actuated by the piston rod 347. 1

When the clamp lugs 345 of the two ends of the base member are clamped upwardly,-the whole clamp unit is held in a rigid, fixed relationship to the guides 305. When the clamp lugs are moved downwardly, the hydraulic clamps are'released for movement along the guides 305. Clamp 325 is similar in construction to clamp 327.

FIG. 8 shows-the hydraulic circuit for the cylinders 343 of the hydraulic clamp 327. A similar circuit is provided for the hydraulic clamp 325. In FIG. 8 a pressure line 353 and a return line 355 are connected to one side of a solenoid operated reversing valve 351, whereas routing line 357 and 359 lead from the valve to the lower and upper portions of the cylinders 343, respectively. The reversing valve 351 can have a neutral position as shown and two operative positions. To activate the cylinders 343 the valve is shifted to supply fluid under pressure through the line 357. To inactivate the cylinders, the valve 351 is shifted to supply fluid under pressure to line 359. v

In operation, assume that the double acting binary cylinders 329 are collapsed and both hydraulic clamps are in released condition. The master cylinder 315 is energized to move the log L forwardly until it engages the gauge 309. Such engagement actuates the switch associated with the tilt gauge. This switch is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 351 of clamp 325, so as to shift the spool of the valve so as to supply fluid under pressure through line 357 to actuate clamp 325. Thus the clamp 325 is now held in rigid relation to the guides 305.

After the gauge rod has been lowered, the appropriate binary cylinder or cylinders are actuated to move the log L beyond thesaw line S the desired amount for the desired cut. Thereupon, the reversing valve for clamp 327 is actuated to energize the clamp to fixedlyhold the knee 307.in the desired cutting position for the log L. Now, the carriage can be advanced along the saw line to pass the log through the saw.

While this is happening, clamp 325 is released and the master cylinder actuated to take up the movement of the binary cylinders so as to collapse them. whereafter theclamp 325 is again energized to set it. Thus, by

the time that the log has returned to its FIG. 6 position (in spaced relation from the saw) the binary cylinders are in condition for resetting the log for the full range of movement available to the binary cylinders.

Now, leaving the clamp 325 activated, the clamp 327 is released and the appropriate binary cylinder or cylin ders are activated to reposition the knee 307 and thus the log L for a second or subsequent cut of the log to a desired extent. Then the clamp 327 is again activated to hold the log fixed and to enable the carriage to be advanced to take the subsequent cut, during which the clamp 325 is again inactivated to reset the binary cylinders for subsequent full range operation.

An advantage of the FIG. 6 form of the invention is that the binary cylinders need only have a combined travel equal to the greatest cut that is to be made. They do not have to have a combined travel equal to the entire range of movement of the knee. Another advantage of the HO. 6 form of the invention is that it is unnecessary to rely upon the holding power of the binary cylindcrs. Instead, the hydraulic clamp 327 functions to rigidly hold the knee in a desired adjusted position. Thus, it is only necessary that the binary cylinders be used for adjustment, not holding purposes.

What is claimed is:

I. In combination,

feeler means at a sawline having a log contact member,

setwork means for advancing a log laterally toward and past the feeler means,

means responsive when the contact member is engaged by the forward side of the log for indicating a position of the log in which the forward side of the log is at the sawlin'e,

and retracting means for lowering the contact member out of the path of the log to permit the setworks means to advance the log beyond said position, the retracting means comprising a cylinder for raising the contact member to an extended position in the path of a log and for lowering the contact member to a retracted position out of the path of a log, said responsive means including sensing means responsive to the contact of the log with the contact member for giving an indication of the contact.

2. The combination of'claim 1 including mounting means mounting said cylinder pivotally, and limit switch means operable by pivoting of said cylinder. 

1. In combInation, feeler means at a sawline having a log contact member, setwork means for advancing a log laterally toward and past the feeler means, means responsive when the contact member is engaged by the forward side of the log for indicating a position of the log in which the forward side of the log is at the sawline, and retracting means for lowering the contact member out of the path of the log to permit the setworks means to advance the log beyond said position, the retracting means comprising a cylinder for raising the contact member to an extended position in the path of a log and for lowering the contact member to a retracted position out of the path of a log, said responsive means including sensing means responsive to the contact of the log with the contact member for giving an indication of the contact.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including mounting means mounting said cylinder pivotally, and limit switch means operable by pivoting of said cylinder. 